Experience

Rating: 10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2021

Best Lawyers -- Construction Litigation, America's Best Lawyers

2020

AV Rated Attorney, 2018. Rating: AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell -- awarded by peer review, for the highest standards of professional skill and ethics.

2020

Super Lawyer-Construction/Surety, Maryland Super Lawyers

2020

AV Rated Attorney, 2019. Rating: AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell -- awarded by peer review, for the highest standards of professional skill and ethics.

2020

Super Lawyer-Construction/Surety, Maryland Super Lawyers 2008-2020

2020

Top 100 Attorneys -- Maryland, Super Lawyers Magazine

2010

Super Lawyer -- Construction/Surety, Maryland Super Lawyers

2009

Super Lawyer -- Construction/Surety, Maryland Super Lawyers

2008

Super Lawyer -- Construction/Surety, Maryland Super Lawyers

1991

Distinguished Service Award, Maryland State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section

1984

Assistant Editor -- Law Review, University of Maryland School of Law

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Work Experience

2010 - Present

Founding Partner, Pike & Gilliss, LLC

1991 - 2009

Partner, Niles, Barton & Wilmer, LLP

1987 - 1991

Associate Attorney, Jordan Coyne Savits & Lopata

1985 - 1986

Judicial Law Clerk, Maryland Court of Special Appeals

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Associations

2013 - Present

Eagles Mere Historic Village, Inc.

Board Secretary/Greens Committee Chair

2008 - Present

Defense Research Institute

Steering Committee Member of Fidelity and Surety Committee

2012 - 2014

College of Wooster Alumni Association

President

2011 - 2014

Maryland State Bar Association, Construction Law Section

Section Council

2011 - 2014

Maryland State Bar Association

Construction Law Section -- Section Council Member

2009 - 2012

Eagles Mere Conservancy, Inc.

Board Member

2008 - 2011

ABA Construction Law Forum

Division 7 Steering Committee

2007 - 2013

Calvert Hall College High School

Board of Trustees; Vice-Chair

2000 - 2010

Maryland State Bar Association

Member -- Program Committee

1992 - 1994

Maryland State Bar Association

Board of Governors

1988 - 1994

Maryland State Bar Association, Fidelity and Surety Subcommittee

Member

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Sample of Legal Cases

BEKA Industries, Inc. v. Worcester County Board of Education

Contractors who do business with county school boards can now be assured that any judgment against the school board will be funded.

Geigan Electrical Services, LLC v. Howard County Public School System

TRO for Subcontractor

Maryland Department of Labor (MOSH) v. Wickersham Construction & Engneering, Inc. Administrative law Courts

Reversal of Citation and Penalty which had been assessed against General Contractor

Atlantic Builders Group, Inc. v. Baisch, Inc, et al., Baltimore County Circuit Court

Judgment on all counts for the General Contractor plus an award of attorneys' fees.

Board of Education for Worcester County vs. BEKA Industries, Inc.

Motion to Dismiss-- granted with prejudice.

BEKA Industries, Inc.v. Worcester County Board of Education

Judgment for my client - $1.1 million

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Education

1985

University of Maryland School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1980

College of Wooster

BA - Bachelor of Arts

1976

Calvert Hall College High School

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Speaking Engagements

2012

Litigating Contract Surety Bond & Fidelity Insurance Claims Drafting Effective Tender and Completion Agrements

2012

Construction Law Section's Breakfast Series MOSH/OSHA Inspections of Job Sites and Administrative Hearings

2011

ABA Mid-Winter Surety and Fidelity Meetings

Third Party Fidelity Claims

2010

HCC Surety Conference

SBA 8(a) Contractors

2010

Construction Financial Management Association Central Pennsylvania

Construction Contract Clauses

2010

ABA Fidelity and Surety Committee -- Mid-Winter

Fidelity Bonds

2010

ABA Fall Meeting, Boston, MA

Profiles in Greed -- Warehouse Lending

2009

Mid-Atlantic Surety Association -- Panel Discussion

Construction Contract Terms and Conditions -- Program Moderator

2009

DRI Fidelity and Surety Roundtable -- Annual Meeting

Fidelity and Surety Claims -- Program Co-Chair

2009

College of Wooster Distinguished Alumni Awards

Awards to Distinguished Alumni at Annual Alumni Weekend --Emcee of Ceremony

2008

Fidelity Law Association Annual Meeting

Fidelity Law -- Commercial Crime -- Program Co-Chair

2006

ABA Fidelity and Surety Committee/ Mid-Winter Meeting/ NYC

Surety Bond Claims

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Publications

2008

Defense Research Institute Time (and Time Again?): Contractual Limitations and Waiting Periods

2008

Surety Claims Institute Newsletter ERISA Bonds and Employee Dishonesty: When is an Employee of the Sponsor Considered an Employee of the Plan?

2008

Fidelity Law Journal Co-Chair -- 2008 FLA Annual Meeting

2007

National Business Institute Seminar Construction Project Management

2007

Maryland Continuing Legal Education (MICPEL) Bricks and BRAC

2006

American Bar Association -- Mid-Winter Meeting Fractures to the Triangle-Developments that Undermine the Tripartite Surety Relationship

2005

NBI Maryland Construction Law: What Do You Do When....?

2004

Lorman Education Services publication Construction Defect Claims in Maryland

2003

National Business Institute Seminar Maryland Construction Law: What Do You Do When...?

1995

Maryland Continuing Legal Education Surety Bonds and Insurance in the Construction Industry

1991

Maryland Continuing Legal Education Arbitration of Construction and Commercial Cases

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Languages

English

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